Final Confrontation (2 page)

The men were obviously of some importance. Their traveling clothes were distinctly Babylonian. They wore headgear in the eastern style, and carried costly jewels hidden in their clothing. Each was like the other in appearance, although they were different in character. All three seemed poised and purposed as they made their way through the desert night.

“The gods be praised,” said Caspar. “This must be the city.”

“This is Jerusalem,” answered Melchior. “The holy city of the Jews. Perhaps we are mistaken?”

“Nonsense,” retorted Caspar, as he took a drink from his water pouch. He wiped his mouth. “No, this is it. I’m sure of it.”

“Who rules in these parts?” asked Melchior.

“Herod the king of the Jews,” came the voice of Balthasar. “Or king so long as Rome permits it. He’s a crafty one though, and not to be dealt with lightly.”

“No doubt,” said Caspar. “Yet we must seek him out and inquire where the Child might be found.”

The three continued toward Jerusalem, wondering what the end of their adventure would hold for them. They had known for some time theirs was a sacred task. Called out of Chaldea to pay homage to a newborn King, Caspar, Melchior, and Balthasar had left their exalted positions as magi to find the Child whose birth had unmistakably beckoned them. All of their calculations pointed to this place—and the star had guided them the entire journey. Now it was rewarding their efforts with precision.

“It is good to know we shall soon be in the presence of the One foretold,” said Melchior. “We will be forever blessed with this memory.”

“Yes,” said Caspar. “Tomorrow we shall visit King Herod. I’m sure he will be interested in our mission.”

Unseen by the humans, two large dark figures watched as the caravan passed by. They grinned at each other.

“Do you also suppose Herod will be interested in their mission?” asked one of the angels.

The other smiled and nodded, his reddish eyes gleaming, then responded, “I believe I can guarantee it!”

“All right, all right. Come to order!”

The din of the energized gathering of angels quickly abated as Michael and Gabriel took the dais that stood in front of the largest assembly hall in the Academy of the Host. Some of the students, who had never spoken with either of the archangels, watched the two rulers whose exploits on earth were becoming well known in Heaven. A few even hoped to pose a question to them, or catch a brief conversation with them after the meeting.

For Michael, this was a familiar setting. He had become accustomed to sitting in on Crispin’s classes—even doing some teaching now and then. Most of these were unfamiliar faces—some of the myriad of angels the Most High had created. Whenever he saw a face he knew, however, he nodded and smiled. He thought back to his own time at the Academy—he was like these eager candidates, many of whom were hopeful to be under Michael’s personal command as warriors of the Host.

Gabriel was not as comfortable in the role of instructor as he was in the role of messenger. He much preferred repeating words already reasoned out than presenting his own information—even in a friendly environment like this. But his great respect for Crispin brought him to the Academy with Michael to discuss the events unfolding on earth. Michael glanced over at his friend and laughed at his predicament.

“Come now, Gabriel,” he said in mock concern. “Surely one who carries the revelations of the Most High to the corners of creation will not be upended by some bright angels in one of Crispin’s classes?”

Gabriel gave Michael an incredulous look.

“Of course not,” he retorted. “After all, Michael, I am privy to the greatest revelations in Heaven. Why, I’ve even given information to the Chief Elder.” He looked up in mock surprise. “And even to you, Michael.”

Michael grinned at the response.

“I love the Academy,” Gabriel continued, glancing around the room. “And these angels. But I prefer delivering messages—not creating them.”

“Come to order, please,” repeated Crispin. The angels settled into hushed silence as the archangels continued their banter. He stared at Michael and Gabriel. “Ahem! I’m speaking now to our guests who are intent on their own conversation,” he added playfully.

“Good master, we beg your forgiveness,” said Michael. “Gabriel cannot restrain his enthusiasm for this occasion. I was instructing him to stop chattering.”

“Yes, so I see,” said Crispin, who nodded at Gabriel with the hint of a grin.

Crispin looked over the class with a scholarly expression and authority that captured the room. He then glanced in the direction of Michael and Gabriel.

“My dear angels,” he began, “This is a wonderful moment in the history of this academy. I know you have awaited this moment for some time now as have I. Before we open the discussion for questions, I would like to read a brief statement which I have prepared, and, with the indulgence of our esteemed guests, the archangels Michael and Gabriel, I will commence reading.”

An aide to Crispin handed a scroll with a wide golden band around its center to the revered teacher. He unrolled the scroll with little ceremony. Michael glanced at Gabriel and gave him a “here we go” look. Crispin began reading:

“
To the students of the Academy of the Host—an account of those events which have been both witnessed and experienced on earth since the dark rebellion began and which have revealed in some measure the wonderful and mysterious and ultimate intention of the Lord our God, the Most High Creator.

In as much as the Lord in His wisdom ordered the recording of the greater portion of the events we are about to recount to you in the Kingdom Chronicles as well as in the Chronicles of the Host, it is our intention to give those details we believe are instructive and of interest to those of you whose future ministry on earth will depend on your ability to deal with the fallen wills of both humans and angels alike.

Indeed, there are two wills with which we contest on both earth and in the heavenlies, and yet they are of the same mind, the same dark source. The mind of man has, since the great disaster in Eden, been twisted and bent on selfish industry. The once glorious earth has been transformed into a bloodstained planet of hopelessness and hate. It thus becomes the ministry of the Host to secure with the Most High the final outcome of His great and glorious plan—something we still don’t understand, but in which we shall play some part as ministering spirits.
”

Crispin handed the scroll back to the aide, who bowed his head, and rolled it up as he walked away. Crispin then returned his focus to the capacity-filled room. He motioned for the two archangels to join him at the dais.

“You all are a part of the greatest contest ever to have presented itself,” he began. “You have witnessed or heard of events great and small in the brief but brutal history of the earth. These events, when taken in total, begin to paint for us a picture that becomes both clear and murky with the birth of the Child at Bethlehem.”

At the mention of Bethlehem, many of the angels in the room looked at Gabriel, who had played such a visible role during that event. Michael smiled discreetly at his friend whose message to Mary had been so shattering.

“I think you’re a hero,” he whispered playfully.

Gabriel grumbled something back, causing Michael to grin.

“And so while we have these two ruling angels among us, we shall take advantage of them,” Crispin continued. “But go easy on them. It has been a while since they were my students in the Academy!”

The room burst into laughter.

“Perhaps before we open the class for questions we should hear from Michael and Gabriel, our great archangels!”

The room broke out in cheers and applause as the two powerful angels looked at one another as if deciding who should speak first. Finally Gabriel came to the platform and began addressing the assembly.

“Thank you Crispin,” he began. “But we all know that there is only One who is great in Heaven.”

Crispin nodded his head in agreement and glanced toward the Great Mountain of the North where the Lord’s Presence rested.

“We angels,” Gabriel continued, “warriors and ministers of the Most High God, have been given a sacred task to serve the Lord by entering the world of humans—those curious creatures made in God’s very image whose rebellion has cost them everything and for whom our Lord is planning some great work through the new-born Child. What this Child shall accomplish, or what shall be His end, only the Most High knows. Ours is not to raise questions—ours is merely to obey the Lord in matters great and small. I will be more than happy to answer any question this body might have.”

He looked over at Crispin. “But I, for one, am looking forward to hearing from the greatest teacher in Heaven!”

The room again broke out in praises to the Lord and applause for the archangel, and the wise angel who was their instructor. Michael then began speaking.

“As you are learning, the human question is a complicated one. As angels and servants of the Most High God, it is our task to accomplish the Lord’s will in Heaven and on earth as He deems necessary. I heard a number of you before this session questioning the Lord’s longsuffering in dealing with such capricious spirits as human beings—the creature-turning-on-its-Creator sort of thing. But, beware. Angels were guilty of this before humans.”

Quiet held the room, as the angels clung to Michael’s words.

“Still, humans have, by their own choice you may recall, established a world that is essentially anti-God. It was not meant to be that way from the beginning. But this is the outcome of a free will that has tasted sin and gathered an appetite for it. We cannot question the Lord’s motives for loving creatures who treat Him in such unloving ways. As Gabriel said, we serve the Lord’s purposes, not our own.”

“Thank you Michael and Gabriel,” commented Crispin, who now took over the presentation and broke the silent spell of the room. “I’m certain your ministry on earth will be of great interest to these eager angels. And having once sat under my teaching, I’m also quite certain a portion of my instruction carried you in some of your more challenging moments.”

Michael and Gabriel laughed, nodding their heads in agreement. The room also fell to laughter.

“In all seriousness, I appreciated the sharp observation made by Michael concerning the ‘capricious’ nature of humans. It is quite true. Humans are a strange mixture of behaviors. Ever since the disaster in Eden, the one-time innocence that was known to those first humans has been distorted and mired in the darkness of pride and rebellion—a behavior we all witnessed in this very Kingdom in the distant past.

Crispin began to pace, clearly in his element.

“Our Lord had determined that in Eden He would create a people with whom He would fellowship in a way even angels cannot appreciate. Remember the speculations and the wonder leading up to that dramatic day when the first man was created? We didn’t know what the Creator was doing but we understood it would be glorious, whatever He did.”

Crispin closed his eyes as if drinking in the day in Eden so long ago.

“A’dam was a beautiful creature—almost god-like in his perfection. He was given the freedom to rule and govern the earth in the Lord’s name. He was given authority over all the creatures and even allowed to name them. He was to become the father of a great nation of humans who would live in fellowship with the Lord and would steward His world forever. He was given a mate…”

Upon these words a quiet rumble among the angels began. The word ‘Eve’ could be heard here and there in the room. Crispin looked over the sea of faces.

“Ah now,” Crispin continued, wagging a finger. “Eve is only a part of this problem. Many angels accuse Eve for the current state of affairs. I submit to you that the rebellion in Eden was the responsibility of A’dam—not Eve!”

The reaction in the room was one of surprise.

“You see, Michael, angels can learn something!”

Michael and Gabriel smiled.

“Yes! Hear me! A’dam was the responsible party in Eden. It was to A’dam that the law was given—not to Eve. It was A’dam to whom the responsibility for upholding the law was delivered—not to Eve. Now, Eve was a catalyst, to be sure. But A’dam? Did he attempt to stop her as she fell into the trap of our enemy? Where was he? He was standing there when it happened and complicit in the crime!